The Gangster and the Government

Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger tells the sordid tale of the infamous Boston gangster found hiding in plain sight in Santa Monica in 2011-and the corrupt government that enabled him.

The documentary reviews how the FBI used Bulger to take down the Mafia in Boston while Bulger built his own criminal network. Bulger insisted he had an immunity deal with U.S. Attorney Jeremiah O'Sullivan and an understanding that they would protect each others' dirty secrets. He was abetted by the biggest gang around, the government, as a family member of one of his victims said.

Bulger's conviction didn't satisfy many of his victims' family members, who believed he couldn't have operated so long without government support. Only one FBI agent, John Connolly, was ever convicted in relation to the case.

Bulger also thought his trial wasn't fair, since he wasn't allowed to mention that alleged deal with the government in court. -Ed Krayewski